USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 15
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The property holders held a legal meeting April I, and voted for public officers : -
For Governor, Hon. Samuel Dexter had one hundred and fifty-one votes; Gen. John Brooks, forty-four votes; Hon. Levi Hubbard, one vote ; Hon. William Gray, one vote.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. William King received one hundred and forty-four votes; His Honor, William Phillips, thirty-six votes.
For County Treasurer, Henry Rust, Esq., receiv- ed thirty votes.
For Senators for the District of Oxford and Som- erset, Hon. Levi Hubbard received one hundred and twenty-eight votes ; Levi Whitman, Esq., thirty- five votes ; and John Turner, Esq., one vote.
For County Register, Alanson Mellen received forty-four votes.
Five hundred dollars to be assessed in the money tax were voted for highways, to be expended by a committee chosen for the purpose.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
The qualified voters met May 6, for the election of a Representative to the General Court, which was to convene on the last Wednesday of the month. George French, Esq., received sixty-one votes; Joseph Bonney, four votes; and Jonathan Phillips, three votes.
At a meeting held September 2, to ascertain the pleasure of the town as to forming the District of Maine into a separate and independent State, the yeas were seventy-five, and the nays sixty-five. John Turner, Esq., was chosen delegate to repre- sent the town in a convention to be held in Bruns- wick on the last Monday of the month, to consider the expediency of erecting Maine into an indepen- dent State.
It was voted to build a pound thirty feet square on the inside, to be made of stone capped with timber.
November 4, votes were cast for Representative of the Seventh Eastern District in the Congress of the United States, with the following result : -
Hon. Albion K. Parris received seventy-three votes ; Samuel A. Bradley, Esq., ten votes ; Henry Rust, Esq., eight votes ; and William Ladd, Esq., two votes.
1817
On January 13, the town consulted as to the most economic manner of supporting the poor
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through the winter, and voted "to put up the poor at vendue." The members of a family were sepa- rated, only one person being "set up" at a time. Eight members of one family were "bid off " by as many different men to support through the win- ter, at a cost to the town varying from twenty-six cents to one dollar per week for each person. Sev- enteen persons, some of them mere children, were disposed of in this manner for the winter, and in addition, a widow was voted five cords of wood, which a man agreed to furnish at one dollar per cord.
At the annual town-meeting in March, Thomas Merrill was chosen moderator; Joseph Bonney, clerk; Joseph Bonney, Jonathan Phillips, and Al- den Blossom, selectmen ; and Joseph Bonney, treas- urer. An agent for each school district was chosen; also a school committee, consisting of three, viz .: Nathan Cole, Thatcher Blake, and Philip Bradford. Two thousand dollars were raised for highways, and three hundred for schools. The school fund was a source of perplexity, since by the act creating the fund, the interest was to be devoted annually for the support of a grammar or high school, and the town wished to use it for the sup- port of the district schools. The trustees were unwilling to expend the money in this way unless the town would indemnify them for any loss they might sustain.
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There were raised for the support of the poor and to meet other obligations, one thousand dollars.
At a meeting held April 7, for the choice of pub- lic officers, votes were cast as follows : -
For Governor, Gen. Henry Dearborn received one hundred and twenty-eight; His Excellency, John Brooks, twenty-six; and Hon. William King, two.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. William King received one hundred and seventeen votes; and His Honor, William Phillips, twenty-seven votes.
For Senators, John Moor, Esq., received one hundred and one votes; and Levi Whitman, Esq., twenty-three votes.
For County Treasurer, Henry Rust, Esq., had thirty-four votes.
At a meeting held on May 5, for the purpose of choosing a Representative to the General Court, it was voted not to send one.
At a meeting held September 8, it was voted "to set up the paupers at vendue," and they were set up at once. It was agreed that the overseers clothe the paupers, and that they who bid them off fur- nish simply their board. The price per week varied from sixteen cents to a dollar and a half, but there were only twelve this year; whether the fear of being " bid off " stimulated some to more earnest effort to support themselves, it does not appear.
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1818
This year Thomas Merrill was chosen modera- tor; Joseph Bonney, clerk; Joseph Bonney, John Turner, and Alden Blossom, selectmen ; and Joseph Bonney, treasurer. In addition to the usual num- ber of school agents, a school committee consisting of Cyrus Clark, Alden Blossom, and Aaron Soule, was chosen. There were two thousand dollars raised for highways, and six hundred dollars for schools. No action was taken in regard to the sup- port of the poor.
At a meeting held in March, to choose a Repre- sentative to the Congress of the United States, Albion K. Parris having resigned, Enoch Lincoln, Esq., received fifty-six votes, and Hon. Judah Dana, twenty votes.
At a meeting held April 6, for the election of public officers, votes were cast as follows : --
For Governor, Hon. Benjamin Crowningshield, one hundred and fourteen votes; His Excellency, John Brooks, twenty-four votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. Thomas Kitter- idge, one hundred and fourteen votes; and Hon. William Phillips, twenty-four votes.
For Senators, Doctor Samuel Small, one hun- dred and fourteen votes; Hon. Luther Cary, twen- ty-four votes; Hon. Daniel Stowell, one vote; and Gen. John Turner, one vote.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
At a meeting held May II, it was voted not to send a Representative to the General Court.
At this meeting, it was voted not to reconsider the vote passed at the annual meeting to appropri- ate six hundred dollars for schools, showing that some were unwilling to pay so large a sum for that purpose. It was voted that " the paupers be sold at vendue for one year," and that they who bid them off keep them comfortably clothed. The bids ranged from nothing up to forty-nine cents a week, and the number sold was only eight. Ap- parently this method of supporting the poor had a wonderful effect in arousing their ambition to pro- vide for themselves.
April 6, votes were cast for County Treasurer. Henry Rust, Esq., had forty-two.
On November 2, votes were cast for Representa- tive to Congress for the Seventh Eastern District, as follows : -
For Enoch Lincoln, Esq., fifty-one votes; for Samuel A. Bradley, Esq., one vote; and Hon. Judah Dana, one vote.
At this meeting, a road was accepted leading to the residence of John Swett Jr .; and another " near Nathan Cole's Tuttle House"; and still another, from Jabez T. Merrill's to the great river.
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1819
At the annual meeting, John Turner, Esq., was chosen moderator; Joseph Bonney, clerk; John Turner, Alden Blossom, and Aaron Soule, select- men ; and Joseph Bonney, treasurer.
Thomas Merrill, Philip Bradford, and Joseph Bonney were chosen a school committee, who were instructed to establish a grammar school in such place, or places, as in their judgment would be for the best interest of the town, to be supported by the school fund so far as it would go. But this was a step in advance of public opinion, and the vote to establish a grammar school was reconsidered at an adjourned meeting. For the support of schools, six hundred dollars were raised; seventeen hun- dred dollars for highways, to be expended in the usual manner, and five hundred dollars to be expended under the direction of a special commit- tee ; and six hundred dollars for support of the poor and other purposes. There were only six persons to be supported by the town, and they were " bid off " as in previous years, the cost of keeping each one per week varying from nothing up to one dollar and seventy cents.
At a meeting held April 5, votes were cast for public officers, as follows : -
.
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For Governor, Hon. Benjamin Crowningshield, one hundred and thirty-two votes ; for His Excel- lency, John Brooks, twenty-six votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. Benjamin Aus- tin, one hundred and thirty-two votes; for His Honor, William Phillips, twenty-six votes.
For Senators, Hon. John Moore, one hundred and thirty-two votes; for Hon. Peleg Wadsworth, twenty-six votes.
For County Treasurer, Henry Rust, Esq., one hundred and eight votes.
At a meeting held the third day of May, to choose a Representative to the General Court, Doctor Philip Bradford received forty-seven votes ; Joseph Bonney, thirty-six votes; John Turner, Esq., five votes; and Cyrus Clark, three votes.
At this meeting, it was voted to raise an addi- tional sum of five hundred dollars to be expended on the highways under a special committee, and to build a bridge over the Twenty Mile River, under the direction of Alden Blossom, Thatcher Blake, and Jesse Bradford.
Voted to discontinue the road between the land of Isaac Leavitt and Warren Richmond to the great river; also the road from Amasa Tribou's dwelling-house toward Pond Brook; and also the road from Blunt Nose, so called, toward Lumbard's Bridge.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
On the sixth day of July, the town voted on the following question: " Is it expedient that the Dis- trict of Maine become a separate and independent State, upon the terms and conditions provided in an act passed by the General Court for that pur- pose?" The number of votes in favor of erecting Maine into an independent State were one hundred and fifty-one ; opposed to it, fifteen.
At a meeting held September 20, called to choose delegates to attend a convention of dele- gates to be held in Portland on the second Monday in October, to form a constitution and frame of government for the new State, Gen. John Turner and Doctor Philip Bradford were chosen.
This convention having accomplished its work, a meeting was called for December 6, that the town might express its approbation or disapprobation of the proposed constitution. Eighty-eight votes were cast in favor of it.
It seems that the town had some difficulty with Southworth Washburn for work done on the road, and for building a bridge near his house, for at a meeting called for the purpose, the selectmen were authorized to settle with him, if they could, on terms satisfactory to themselves, "otherwise said Washburn may seek his own remedy."
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1820
Gen. John Turner was chosen moderator of the annual meeting; Joseph Bonney was chosen clerk ; Joseph Bonney, Asa Bradford, and Philip Bradford, selectmen ; and Joseph Bonney, treasurer. Nathan Cole, William K. Porter, and John Blake, were chosen school committee. There were raised for schools, six hundred dollars; fifteen hundred dol- lars for highways, and two hundred dollars for highways, to be expended under the direction of a special committee.
At a meeting held the third day of April, votes were cast as follows : -
For Governor, Hon. William King, one hundred and forty.
For Senators, Hon. Samuel Small, one hundred and forty-five; James W. Ripley, Esq., one hundred and forty-five.
For Representative to the Legislature, Gen. John Turner, one hundred and twelve; Col. Cyrus Clark, fifty-two; Joseph Bonney, eight.
For County Treasurer, Alanson Mellen received thirty votes.
At this meeting, it was voted to refer the matter in dispute between the town and Southworth Wash- burn, respecting the bridge and road near his mills, to referees for settlement. His mills are now known as Chase's Mills.
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At a meeting held May I, it was voted that " the poor be sold at vendue "; that those who "bid them off must keep them comfortably clothed and fed, and send the children to the town school, and pay all expenses except doctor's bills"; but were to have the benefit of their labor. The number bid off was four only, at a price ranging from seventeen cents to forty cents per week. In addition to this, the town agreed to pay Abijah Gorham twenty- eight dollars to furnish Jotham Briggs, wife, and two children, house room for a year, and seventeen cords of wood. The town also voted to pay Jotham Briggs fifty cents per week, and furnish him fifteen pounds of flax and wool. For support of poor and town debts, nine hundred dollars were raised.
On November 6, the town voted as follows: -
For Electors at Large, Gen. Joshua Wingate, ten votes ; William Moody, Esq., ten votes.
For Elector of the Seventh Congressional Dis- trict, Gen Levi Hubbard, nine votes.
For Representative to Congress, Enoch Lincoln, Esq., ten votes.
1821
At the annual meeting Thomas Merrill was chosen moderator; Joseph Bonney, clerk; Joseph Bonney, Asa Bradford, and Aaron Soule, selectmen ; and Joseph Bonney, treasurer. The selectmen
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were chosen the school committee, and an agent was chosen for each of the fourteen school districts. Voted three thousand dollars for highways, and four hundred dollars for schools, which was after- ward increased to five hundred dollars ; and five hundred and fifty dollars for support of the poor, and to pay town charges.
September 10, a meeting was held for the elec- tion of State and county officers.
For Governor, Albion K. Parris received one hun- dred and fifty-four votes; Ezekiel Whitman, eighteen votes; Gen. Joshua Wingate, ten votes; and Mark L. Hill, one vote.
For Senators, Gen. James W. Ripley received eighty-one votes; Cornelius Holland, eighty-one votes ; Gen. James Steele, seventy-two votes ; George French, seventy-two votes ; Joseph Bonney, one vote ; and Thomas Merrill, one vote.
For Representative, Joseph Bonney received sev- enty-nine votes ; Cyrus Clark, fifty-nine votes ; and Nathan Cole, one vote.
The selectmen, treasurer, and town clerk held several meetings during the fall and early winter, at which David Talbot and Alden Blossom, were licensed as innholders for one year; and Cyrus Clark, William Parris, Alden Blossom, and Isaac Chase were licensed to " retail strong liquors until the first Monday of September next."
18
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
1822
Thomas Merrill, Esq., was chosen moderator ; Joseph Bonney, town clerk; Thomas Merrill, John Blake, and Philip Bradford, selectmen ; and Joseph Bonney, treasurer. Rev. Allen Greely, Dr. Luther Cary, and William K. Porter, Esq., were chosen school committee. " Voted to indemnify the trus- tees of the school fund from harm in consequence of a part of the interest of said fund being expended in a common English school." Three thousand dollars were raised for highways, five hundred for support of schools, and five hundred for the sup- port of the poor, and for other town charges.
It was voted that Elisha Sylvester and wife, paupers, be removed to Scituate, Massachusetts, at the expense of the town, and that " the other pau- pers be set up at vendue." Two families and one person were provided for in this manner, the single person being kept for fifteen cents a week.
The selectmen, treasurer, and town clerk licensed Cyrus Clark, William Harris, Alden Blossom, and Isaac Chase to sell strong liquors one year, and Alden Blossom and David Talbot to be innholders for the same time.
At a meeting held in September, fifteen hundred dollars were raised for highways. The town owned no building in which to hold the annual meetings, and a proposition to buy the school-house near Sylvester Jones's for that purpose was rejected.
It has been thought best not to continue the Annals any further.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
This occurred at the village, July 7, 1886, one hundred years from the date of the Act of Incorporation passed by the Gen- eral Court of Massachusetts, erecting the plantation .of Sylves- ter-Canada into the town of Turner. The day was favorable, and large numbers of former residents, and of people from the adjacent towns were present. Two large tents were procured, each two hundred feet long and fifty feet wide, one for the celebration proper, and the other for the dinner. The com- mittee of arrangements, chosen at the town-meeting in the preceding March, consisted of Hon. Rufus Prince, Maj. H. C. Haskell, Rackley D. Leavitt, Henry Turner, Elias Keene, and Dr. John T. Cushing.
THE PROCESSION.
It was about a mile long, and was half an hour in passing a given point. The tableaux of every day scenes of a century ago, the representations of the costumes and customs of the settlers of Turner, the historical allegories and quaint reminders of long ago, made it a most gratifying and instructive panorama. It was headed by the Norway Band, twenty-four pieces. The Chief Marshal was Maj. H. C. Haskell, and his aids were Capt. Aubrey Leavitt and Capt. J. E. Ash. The Marshal of the second division was Henry Turner, and his aids, Henry Bon- ney and L. E. Merrill.
The first division was the marching division ; the second and most diverting, was the costumed historical show on wheels.
Wilson Post, G. A. R., thirty-two men, had the right of the line. Four carriages followed, containing the President of the day, Hon. Rufus Prince, the orators and invited guests. The
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next organization was Nezinscot Lodge of Free Masons, thirty- two men. Teagues Hill Lodge of Good Templars, twenty-three persons, rode in a decorated hay-rack. Turner Grange made a grand display. The chief officer rode in a handsome barouche. Seven more nice teams conveyed the officers and members, each officer carrying a banner with an evergreen inscription.
An Ancient Drum and Fife Corps played for the second division. This drum corps was one of the inspiring features of the parade. Round after round of applause broke out as these gray-haired grandsires marched by, with heads erect, playing lustily. The snare drummers were Amasa Johnson of Auburn, aged sixty-six years, S. H. Keene of Hebron, aged sixty-two. Fifer, Nathaniel Keene of Poland, aged seventy-two years next August. He was fifer for Co. K in the late rebellion. He and Mr. Johnson were both in the Madawaska war. Mr. Johnson played a drum that was made in 1786. These old men merrily beating and piping "The girl I left behind me," formed an unwonted spectacle.
GOING TO CHURCH IN 1786. This scene was pictured by Mr. J. H. Conant and Mrs. Mary Parsons, who rode in the first wagon brought into the town of Turner. They were dressed in the steeple hat, sun-bonnet, and other clothing of a hundred years ago, and made a laughable tableau.
SHINGLE MAKERS. On a cart rode several men, shaving shingles, portraying an early industry of Turner.
EARLY SETTLERS. An old-fashioned family on an ox-cart represented the Keene family moving into Turner in 1777.
GODDESS OF LIBERTY. Mrs. Stella Brown of North Turner, in an appropriate costume, rode in a triumphal car and depicted the Goddess of Liberty.
THE CHOIR. This was one of the most elaborate and pleas- ing parts of the show. In a hay-rack were the old fiddlers and singers, costumed from Turner's attics. Horace True, in a tall white hat, was the conductor; Maurice Cary and Welcome
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Beals, fiddlers ; Jairus Cary and Albert E. Bradford, bass viol ; Mrs. J. P. Waterman, Mrs. H. A. Hildreth, Mrs. A. K. Bickford, Mrs. C. J. Fish, sang the air; Mrs. S. I. Decoster and Mrs. Leonard P. Bradford, counter ; Mr. Lewis P. Bradford and Rev. A. N. Jones, tenor ; Mr. J. P. Waterman and Mr. D. J. Briggs, bass. Robert Sutton was driver. The choir played and sung old tunes as they proceeded ; but, alas ! their hay-rack broke down before they had gone far. The bass viol played by A. E. Bradford, was the one which his grandfather, William Brad- ford, used to play in church, and is understood to be the one first brought into town.
CHAIR FACTORY. This North Turner industry was repre- sented by a crew of men on a car, making wicker chairs.
CANNING FACTORY. Another North Turner Industry was shown by a crew making tin cans, with their machinery, on a cart.
THE FOUR SEASONS. North Turner also contributed this carriage to the parade, and it was one of the prettiest. Four young ladies were dressed as the seasons. Spring had flowers, Summer was in the garb of the zephyr, Autumn bore sheaves and a sickle and fruit, Winter, rather hard on her, was done up in a fur-trimmed cloak and hat.
THE MOST REMARKABLE TURNOUT was a carriage conveying the four children of Caleb House, the first settler of North Turner, three old gentleman and one old lady, aged eighty-eight, eighty-six, eighty-three, and seventy-eight years, respectively. One of them said, " There is another one seventy-six years old, but he could not come." Is it not remarkable that the children of the first settler should survive to celebrate the centennial.
GOING TO THE PARSON'S. This idea was carried out by a blushing young couple in a very old chaise. They wore clothes a century old. The couple were Mr. A. F. Pratt, and Miss M. O. Hooper.
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PIONEER EVENING SCENE. This was a felicitous conception well consummated. A large, long cabin, with open doors and windows, was mounted on trucks. In the interior you saw the father shelling corn into a tub, the mother knitting, and the children occupied with their stints. The corn-sheller was Charles Bonney, of the North Parish.
GOING TO A PARTY ; OLD AND NEW. A company of men and women on horseback, in continental costumes, was the "old "; a modern team the "new." The costumes were very nice.
A RELIC of ancient Turner was carried in the next tableau. A rough log-house was set up and in front of it was nailed a weather-beaten sign, barely legible, nearly one hundred years old, reading " John Keen, Tavern, 1792."
REDSKINS. The Indians were a department of the show that edified the children exceedingly. Ten braves and squaws with painted faces, feathers, and all the trappings of the typical wild Indians, rode horse-back, and flourished tomahawks.
CHAIR BOTTOMERS. The old way of bottoming chairs was shown in this carriage.
THE ONE-HOSS SHAY. A model of Dr. Holmes' immortal- ized vehicle was put in by Mrs. A. R. Cary of South Turner.
THE FIRST SETTLER. Another log-cabin on wheels, inhabited by pioneers with their guns and powder-horns, was a tribute to the men who moved to Sylvester-Canada (now Turner), when it was a wilderness. W. C. Whitman and S. Adkins were the pioneers.
ANCIENT WEAVING. In a car imitating an olden kitchen, Mrs. Calvin Mckinney rode, plying her loom busily. The old loom was a novelty to many observers.
THE BRIDAL PARTY was a spectacle worthy of the most bril- liant carnival. It was a realistic picture of a bride and groom coming to town with a mounted escort, one hundred years ago. The whole party of five wore elegant velvet and silk costumes
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of the Revolution, and rode handsome horses. Mr. Harry A. Bearce was disguised as the bride, and Mr. Frank E. Bray was the groom.
THEM STEERS. Solon Chase was the lion of the day. He drove a beautiful pair of black steers, hauling a hay-rack full of children, who carried a banner reading, "We drive them steers." The crowd cheered and applauded Solon, and many rushed into the road to shake his hand. Solon was quite in his element.
REVOLUTIONARY RELICS. The representatives of Snell's Hill rode in another old kitchen scene. On the front of the car, Caleb Snell, in full war paint, brandished a rifle, captured by his father in the Revolutionary war. A Revolutionary fife and drum were played by a pair of performers, while women in Revolutionary gowns churned Revolutionary churns, and revolved Revolutionary spinning wheels.
AN INDIAN WIGWAM. There was no more faithful tableau than this, done by Mr. George Staples and his family. They were dressed and painted as Indians, and had a birch canoe, bows, arrows, and all the Indian fixings. A pretty little girl, who passed as their captive, elicited the admiration of the spectators.
THE SCHOOLS. Every school district in the town sent its hay-rack or large load of children to the parade, and their shining faces enlivened it, and made the show seem to enjoy itself full as much as other folks enjoyed it. Their carriages were trimmed with leaves and evergreen, and they were dressed in their best. The boys of one school, who rode in a boat, wore blue sailor suits. In another school, the girls wore little white bonnets, and the boys straw hats with red bands all alike. The Village Grammar School boys wore white jockey caps, with "V. G." on them. District No. 7 rode in a great black shoe.
A UNIQUE DEVICE closed the procession. It was dedicated to "Our Prodigals." A beautiful young lady carried a welcom-
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ing banner in advance. A butcher and a fatted calf rode in a cart, the butcher sharpening his knife. The cart was inscribed " Our Prodigals have returned." Daniel C. Stevens and James F. Ridley were butcher and driver.
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